The GOP leader, who's clashed with Donald Trump on Russia, taxes, immigration and entitlement reform, said his caucus does not believe higher tariffs are the solution to economic disparities.

'We think tax reform is the better way of addressing imbalances, leveling the playing field without starting trade wars...without having the adverse effects that you get with protectionism or trade wars,' Ryan asserted.

The newly reelected House Speaker told Hewitt, 'We think leveling the playing field on taxes, reducing the costs on American businesses by reducing regulatory costs, healthcare costs, that's the secret to making a businesses more competitive.

'Not raising prices or raising tariffs but lowering the costs and leveling the playing field,' he added.

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House Speaker Paul Ryan said Wednesday that Congress would not be raising taxes on companies that ship jobs over the border and sell their products in the United States

Trump has been threatening 'big' border taxes on companies that defy his orders to keep jobs in the U.S.

The president-elect has said on numerous occasions that companies ignoring his demands will pay a steep price - a 35 percent tariff.

'The U.S. is going to substantialy reduce taxes and regulations on businesses, but any business that leaves our country for another country, fires its employees, builds a new factory or plant in the other country, and then thinks it will sell its product back into the U.S without retribution or consequence, is WRONG!

'There will be a tax on our soon to be strong border of 35% for these companies,' Trump said in a series of Dec. 4 tweets.

Trump has been threatening 'big' border taxes on companies that defy his orders to keep jobs in the U.S.

The president-elect has said on numerous occasions that companies ignoring his demands will pay a steep price - a 35 percent tariff

Ford has been a favorite target. Trump told Fox News in September that after he slapped the car company with a 35 percent tariff, 'you know what's gonna happen? They're never going to leave.'

Today Trump made an example of Toyota, which announced plans to build a new facility in Mexico in April of 2015.

'Toyota looks forward to collaborating with the Trump administration to serve in the best interests of consumers and the automotive industry,' Toyota spokesman Scott Vazin told Reuters this afternoon.

Toyota already has a plant in Baja. It's Guanajuato facility will make the Corolla, taking over production from a plant in Canada in 2019.

Trump singled out General Motors on Tuesday for its over-the-border production of the Chevy Cruze it sells in foreign markets.

'General Motors is sending Mexican made model of Chevy Cruze to U.S. car dealers-tax free across border. Make in U.S.A.or pay big border tax!' he tweeted.

The automotive company said in a statement it builds the sedans it sells in the United States in its Lordstown, Ohio factory.

Only a 'small number' of the Chevy Cruzes that are manufactured in Ramos, Mexico make their way back to the United States, GM says.

Economists say the tariffs Trump's proposing would hurt the U.S. economy. Costs would be passed down to consumers, and Americans would end up paying more for goods.

Ford announced a $700 million investment in Michigan, in addition to the jobs that were referenced by Trump, on Tuesday, and the cancellation of a plant it planned to build in Mexico after Trump tweeted about tariffs again

A 35 tariff on Ford would have amounted to $2.8 billion in taxes in 2016, CNN Money reported. That's more than Ford reported in income in the third quarter of last year, according to its most recent FEC filing.

Ford announced a $700 million investment in Michigan and 700 new jobs on Tuesday, cancelling its plans to build a $1.6 billion plant in Mexico for production of the Ford Focus.

It said it would build the next generation of the vehicle at an existing factory in the foreign country.

Employees of its Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Fort Wayne, Michigan, will build an 'all-new small utility vehicle with extended battery range,' Ford said, 'as well as the fully autonomous vehicle for ride-hailing or ride-sharing,' the Mustang and the Lincoln Continental.

Ford CEO Mike Shields said his company did not strike a deal with Trump - but cited the president-elect's and the new Congress' 'pro-growth' policies as a factor in the company's decision.